It's day one here on the TARDIS. So far, things have gone swimmingly....literally. Can't list how many times I have fallen in the indoor pool in this thing trying to find my way to the bathroom. That is not a pretty way to wake up, but I do manage. I just hope we don't run into any problems along the way...
Strawberry leaned over my shoulder, watching as I continued writing away in one of my journals. "Professor...you never did tell me what you write in these things." she said, picking up one and tilted her head as she couldn't read cursive just yet.
"Oh, these? They are just the journals of my new life. Since I have amnesia, I keep track of everything I can learn about the ponies I meet and the friends I make.", I replied. I continued writing in the journal, thinking to myself on what the first place the TARDIS would encounter would be. That's when Derpy walked into our bedroom with some muffins.
"Breakfast time, you two! Doctor says we'll be landing soon.", Derpy said, placing two blueberry muffins down on my desk. Strawberry grabbed her own muffin and was nibbling at it hungrily. I laughed as I placed the leather journal back into my labcoat and turned my attention back to Derpy.
"So, does the Doctor have any idea on where we are heading, Derpy? Do I have to dress warm?", I asked.
"No, the Doctor says we are heading 25 years into our future. I wonder if I am a full-fledged mailmare in that time?", Derpy asked. She giggled over something, making me confused on what she was really thinking.
"I don't think it works that way, Derpy. I bet anything that since we are in the TARDIS, time actually stops for us and nothing dealing with us progresses. In any case, let us join the good Doctor in the control room. Let's go, Strawberry.", I said, walking out of the bedroom door.
"Coming, Professor!"
So, the three of us returned back into the control panel, seeing the Doctor chomping on ANOTHER stick of butter! WHAT DOES HE SEE IN BUTTER?! I don't see it!
"Doctor, are you paying attention to the controls!?" I exclaimed, looking around at all the blinking lights and hearing rapid beeping noises.
"Of course I am, Prodigy! I'm the Doctor! I think I know how to fly my own craft." the Doctor said, taking another bite from the stick of butter.
"Then why does this panel say we passed the place we needed to land?!" I replied.
"Uh-oh. HANG ON!", the Doctor exclaimed, taking back the controls. I was thrown into the wall of the TARDIS when it took a sudden stop, heading back the way we came. What seemed like years outside of the TARDIS was only seconds to us as we landed in year 1026. "Well, I think that worked out just fine!", the Doctor said.
I muttered as I opened up my eyes, noticing I was clinging to a beam on the top of the ceiling. "How did I even get up here!?", I asked.
"I don't know, Professor! Maybe you should come down! We landed!" Strawberry said, hopping behind the Doctor and Derpy out of the doors.
"Hey, wait for...me?" I said, walking out of the TARDIS doors to be amazed at what I was looking at. In every direction as far as I could see, everything was technologically advanced. Even some of the elderly ponies had some sort of technology to help them with their daily needs! "Where are we?, Doctor?" I asked.
"Why, we're in....uhhh.....Derpy, you know more about Equestria than I do. What was this city called?" the Doctor asked the pegasus.
"Why, it's amazing! We're in Canterlot!", Derpy said, pointing out the royal palace in the distance.
"CANTERLOT!? But this is only 25 years in the future! How did we get this advanced in technology?!", I said, looking at a mini robot pony tending to the nearby flowers.
"I don't know, but keep your eyes out for anything peculiar. The TARDIS landed on this specific day for some reason, I can feel it." the Doctor said.
"Are they a good reason, Doctor?", Strawberry said, looking down into the crowd of ponies in front of us.
"What do you mean?" the Doctor asked the pink filly.
"Well....if memory serves me....that's Princess Celestia's Royal Guards over there." Strawberry replied, pointing off towards a crowd of armored ponies. I could tell something was wrong, from the way they looked. I then turned my attention to my feet. I blinked a few times before I squatted down and kept my attention to the ground
"Well, that does seem kinda odd, but why? This is Canterlot, so seeing the Royal Guard in the Town Square wouldn't be strange. ....But this time.....it feels off." the Doctor said.
"That's not what is disturbing me right now." I said out loud. "Haven't you three noticed something yet?"
"Noticed what, Prodigy?", Derpy and the Doctor said at the same time.
"Well, for starters, the ground is rather warm for this time of day. That contradicts THREE facts I know already." I stated.
"Prodigy, you have an amazing sense of foresight. So what do you see that is wrong?" the Doctor said.
"Well, first, let's get some info on something that is puzzling me. Excuse me, guard!" I said, walking over to one of the guards. Derpy, the Doctor, and Strawberry followed, wondering what I was gonna ask this stallion.
"Hmm? Sorry, young alicorn. I am too busy to talk to you at the moment.", the guard said, not facing me at all.
"I was just wanting to know what is going on. Me and my friends just arrived in Canterlot a few minutes ago and are kinda out of the loop at the moment." I replied.
The guard looked at me with a funny look and said, "Out of the loop? OUT OF THE LOOP?! Are you MAD!?"
"No, but I did ask a question: what is happening? The ground is too hot, the sun hasn't moved AN INCH, and according to the clock tower, it is 10 o'clock!" I said, pointing at the clock tower in the distance.
"What's so bad about the clock saying it is 10, Professor?" Strawberry asked. I was just about to answer her when the guard replied for me.
"10 p.m. It's 10 p.m., meaning it should be NIGHTTIME." the guard replied.
Derpy gasped as her eyes shrank in shock. "Nighttime!? B-but....THE SUN IS STILL OUT! How is that possible?!" she exclaimed.
"Hmm.....follow me. This is something that should be discussed in private." the guard said. He straightened up his uniform and walked off towards the royal castle. Reluctantly, the four of us followed, each of us having the same thought in mind: what is going on in Canterlot?
The royal guard took us directly to the throne room where Princess Celestia could normally be found. I recognized the place from my first visit there: around the time Princess Luna returned to Canterlot. It was here I got the suspicion that those two mares knew something about me....what could be the reason for my return here?
"Alright....I am going to be frank with you four, since I think you can be trusted......Her Majesties, Princess Luna and Princess Celestia has been missing.", the guard said to us, looking back towards us.
"MISSING?!", Strawberry gasped.
The guard shushed Strawberry and said, "Yes, missing. For exactly three days. We've been telling the people of Equestria that both Princesses have taken ill, so changing the sun and the moon is impossible, but I think they are all starting to wise up to the truth slowly but certainly. We guards have searched almost everywhere in Equestria, but there is no sign of the Princesses anywhere."
"Interesting. Well, you are luck we happened along. We just happened to be special investigators for this case. The High Council themselves sent us here." the Doctor said.
The guard gave the Doctor a shady look and said, "Really? Where is your proof? Who are you four, anyway?"
"Oh, forgive me. Name's Time Keeper, Private Investigator. These are my associates, Detective Muffinhead, Detective Skye, and our apprentice Boysenberry. Here is our credentials, sir guard." the Doctor said, flashing a wallet with what looked like a small slip of blank paper.
The guard muttered and said, "You four's credentials are sound."
"Thank you. Now, if you could, please tell me exactly where the Princesses were last seen." the Doctor stated.
The guard crossed his arms, obviously contemplating on where the Princesses were last seen at. That's when I took a step back and leaned to the Doctor and asked, "Detective Skye? Boysenberry? Detective Muffinhead? Time Keeper? What's that all about, Doctor?"
"Secret alibis. We don't want him to know who we really are, do we?" the Doctor asked.
"Good point." I said before the guard interrupted.
"Ah yes, I remember! They were at Ponyville the last I heard of them. They were visiting that purple unicorn student of Her Majesty, Princess Celestia." the guard said.
"They went to go see Ms. Twilight Sparkle? And they haven't returned from there? Very mysterious....very well, we'll be on our way there now. Thank you, kind sir." I replied.
"Something's going down in Ponyville, huh? Odd place to go, but it's the only clue we have. To the TARDIS!" the Doctor said, running back out of the throne room with me, Derpy, and Strawberry following behind. He looked at the clock and said, "It's 2:00 in the morning right now. At this rate, finding the Princesses will be the least of our problems. We'll have to worry about the sun setting the planet ablaze. Let's hurry!"
I ran into the TARDIS and took a seat, Strawberry sitting down beside me. "Let's go, Doctor! We don't have time to waste!" Derpy said, handing him the key.
"Right! ALLONSY!" the Doctor replied, and with a slight whirring noise, the TARDIS disappeared. Within minutes, we reappeared on the outskirts of Ponyville, not far from Twilight's library. "Ok, keep your eyes out for anything suspicious. And also make sure not to get seen by anypony you may know or recognize."
"Doctor, what kind of thing would be suspicious?" Strawberry asked.
"Anything that may be out of the ordinary. Why do you ask, little one?" the Doctor replied.
"W-well....that building over there is where me and the Professor stayed....and I don't remember any STATUES on the roof." Strawberry said. She blinked once and gasped loudly. "N-no way, that's not possible!"
"What happened, Strawberry?" I asked
"Th-the statues! THEY MOVED!" the filly said, running behind me quickly.
"Moving sta....OH NO. Quickly, get to the library, and whatever you do, DON'T BLINK!" the Doctor said, bolting towards the library door, only to see another statue blocking it. "Just as I thought....this universe has them too..."
"D-Doctor...we're surrounded by those things! What are they?!" Derpy asked with a nervous tone.
"Weeping Angels. In this case, Weeping Pegasi. They are a dangerous bunch. You'd never know that they are alive unless you blinked. So, whatever you do, DON'T BLINK." the Doctor commanded.
"But we have to do something! We can't just stay here and do nothing!" I said. I took a quick look inside of the library window and gasped. "Princess Celestia's in there! So is Luna and Twilight! They are....attached to some sort of device, Doctor!"
"That's it! They are trying to harness their magical energy to make the Weeping Pegasi power even stronger. If that happens, things could get really bad for Equestria." the Doctor said.
I muttered to myself, placing a hand to my chin. "Come on, Prodigy. Think! There must be a way to get past them and get to the others inside the library. Ugh, come on!" I said to myself.
"Professor, if you have any ideas, now would be a good time! Even with my Sonic Screwdiver, there is just one too many here!" the Doctor exclaimed, pointing what looked like a metallic stick at one of the statues, it evaporating into dust.
"Well, I have one, but it's mad, and I don't think it'll work!" I said.
"WE'RE LISTENING!" Doctor, Derpy, and Strawberry replied.
"Well, when in doubt....RUN!!!!" I said, running past two statues, watching as most of them started chasing after me.
"Professor, what are you doing?!" Strawberry yelled in fear, watching as I kept running and running around the tree.
"Quite honestly, I don't know, but it is distracting them! And with any luck, they might get dizzy and crash into each other!" I replied.
"But there are more coming from the other direction, Prodigy! LOOK OUT!" Derpy said, flying towards me.
"Quick decision!" I said. In one move, I grabbed Derpy and dragged her to the ground, ducking out of the incoming Weeping Pegasi and watching as each of them collided into one another, shattering into nothing but pieces of rock. I chuckled softly and said, "See? My plan worked perfectly. Now, let's get those other ones out here. Doctor, if you would please?"
"My pleasure!" the Doctor said, kicking the library door open, only for a Weeping Pegasus to meet him face-to-face, baring its teeth at him dangerously. "Oh dear. Ditzy, I have a problem!" he said, running the other direction as the statue followed him.
"Coming, Doctor!" Derpy replied, following after him quickly.
"Professor, there's still two more in there!" Strawberry said, seeing the statues open up their wings, making a makeshift gate in front of the three hostages. "What now? These look like they won't make things easy"
"My dear assistant, you forgot the most important rule with predicaments like this: USE YOUR HEAD. HAVE AT THEE, VILE DEMON!!!" I yelled, charging into the library.
"Prodigy!" Twilight said, watching me slam into the two statues.
"Mr. Skyfire, are you alright?" Princess Luna asked.
"Oogh, that one hurt!" I said, sitting up and shaking my head slightly. "You girls alright?"
"J-Just barely. They've practically drained us of everything we had." Princess Celestia said weakly. I crawled over to them, looking at the machine the statues had attached them to. It was a interesting piece of work, but I am certain I could stop it.
"Strawberry, I need my screwdriver!" I said.
"Uh, I forgot it back on the TARDIS!" Strawberry said with a whine. She shrieked when she saw the pebbles on the ground behind me move. "PROFESSOR! IT'S STILL ALIVE!!!"
I heard a growl behind me as I looked back to see the two statutes baring razor-sharp teeth at me. My life in Ponyville flashed before my eyes as they pounced towards me. "Oh no you don't, you monsters! I'm the Doctor, and the Doctor is IN!" I heard the Doctor's voice say. He pointed his Sonic Screwdriver at the statutes, two loud screeches was heard before they evaporated into dust. "You alright, Prodigy? Come on, old chap. Speak to me." he said.
"R-R-Retsu...." I murmured softly before passing out.
The Doctor raised an eyebrow when that name was said. 'Retsu? But that name.....can you really be him, Prodigy? ....No. It's too soon to tell. I need more proof.' the Doctor thought to himself, laying me back onto the ground. He pointed the Sonic at the machine, and watched as a small smoke wisp erupted from it. He walked over to the three captives and removed the contraptions that was draining them of their energy, the three mares sighing as they knew they were safe.
"Well done, my little troublemakers. Once again, you stuck out your necks to save our lives." Celestia said, nodding her head slightly.
"It was no trouble, your Majesty." the Doctor replied. He looked over to me and said, "If anypony, you should thank the Professor over there. Even in the face of danger, he showed an immeasurable amount of courage."
"Yes, Prof. Skyfire has always been like that...even back when he still had his memory...." Luna said softly. Both Twilight and the Doctor's ears perked when Luna said that.
"Princess Luna....does that mean you and Princess Celestia know about Prodigy's hidden past?" Twilight asked, brushing Prodigy's hair softly with her hand.
"....It's best if Prodigy figure it out on his own." Celestia stated. She looked at the Doctor with a serious face and said, "Heed caution, Doctor. This path has many twists and turns, and each one goes further down a path of darkness. Stay vigilant."
The Doctor nodded to Celestia and went over and picked Prodigy up over his shoulder. "I'll take him home, Ms. Sparkle. Would you take care of the Princesses?" the Doctor asked.
"Yes, Doctor." Twilight said, turning away from him.
"Strawberry, we're leaving!" the Doctor said, the small filly assistant followed after him. He looked around and said, "Ms. Hooves, where are you? It's time to get going!"
Derpy peeked from within the tree and said, "Up here! And I found something really weird, Doctor."
"Something weird?" the Doctor replied. He sat Prodigy on the ground and climbed up the tree to where Derpy was. She pointed at something attached to the tree. "A antenna? Hmm....there's something written on the base of it....his memory will be the key to total annihilation....wonder what that means?"
"I don't know." Derpy said, her eyes looking in every direction surrounding her and the Doctor.
"In any case, this thing must be destroyed." the Doctor stated, crushing the small mechanism with his hoof. He hopped down from the tree limb and picked the unconscious alicorn from the ground again and said, "Let's be on our way!", before re-entering the TARDIS. He saw Strawberry pat a nearby couch, telling him that the Professor should be sat there.
"Alright, Doctor! Where to now?" Derpy said.
"Anywhere the TARDIS takes us, my companion. Anywhere the TARDIS may take us." he stated, starting up the time machine, taking us to yet another destination.
What was that odd machine that the Doctor destroyed? His memory will be the key to total annihilation? What could that mean? All of these questions and more shall be answered rather soon....
